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All of these look like really interesting places to stay for a night while visiting the Mitzpe Ramon area (at least they have nice websites!). But I can't find any reviews from anyone who has stayed in them. Does anyone know these places and is there a reason to prefer one or the other? Reason to prefer one of these locations? We are passing through on our way from Eilat to Tel Aviv, and have a few hours late afternoon one day and morning the next day to explore the area, primarily the Makhtesh Ramon. We are a family of four (two daughters, ages 11 and 14).

I have stayed at this zimmer http://www.orange-spot.co.il/contact.htm and wrote a review in the hotels section. Clean, comfortable and suitable for a family. No brealfask, but there is small kitchen so you could make your own. There is milk, sugar, coffee and cookies. 2 TV sets in each room. It was nice and not expensive.

I stayed 2 nights at Carmey-Avdat in October 2009. I don't know any of the other places so couldn't give you any comparison. Not sure Carmey-Avdat is most convenient to Makhtesh Ramon, and it's not really geared to youngsters -- I don't know if any of them are more or less kid-friendly. But Adam Sela could give you a sense of the different places, probably as well as anyone.

Thanks, everyone. I looked up all the other places you mentioned and all look very nice as well. I sent a PM to Adam Sela but haven't heard back from him. I think you are right about Carmey-Avdat not being as convenient for the Makhtesh, AZZenny. In comparing all the locations on maps, it looks like the Alpaca Farm and the Desert Home are probably the most convenient for purposes of touring the Makhtesh, with some of the others as much as 39 km away. Maybe we will stop at some of them to see the cheese, wine, etc. that they are selling, but it probably doesn't make as much sense to stay there. Our kids are clamoring for the Alpaca Ranch, so I think we'll stay there unless Adam advises us otherwise. I'll write up a report on it when we get back, since there's no info that I was able to find and it might be helpful to others.

Any recommendations for a restaurant for dinner in the Mitzpe Ramon area?

Restaurants in Mizpe Ramon are a sore spot. The Isrotel hotel has a restaurant, never been there. We had dinner at the visitors center (Ha-Havit, Italian) and it was good, not expensive either. Our grandkids were with us and they too loved it. Try to get a table with a view. Spectacular.

I've never stayed at the Alpaca farm (didn't know they do overnights), but I was there for 2-3 hours with my husband and 2 daughters, then 14 and 7, a couple of years ago in February, and we all had a great time.

We stayed at the Isrotel - got a cheap deal for half-board. Both the breakfasts and the dinners were excellent - both were buffet, but I'm afraid I don't know the price just for dinner. We even got the pastry chef to give us the recipe for her amazing chocolate biscuits. You don't have to be a guest to eat there either meal (they don't do lunch).

Just to clarify my writing on Desert Home. The view out the back was great, as was the breakfast. But you should know that it was a regular house situated on a town street. As such, it was close to the town restaurants and the machtesh. but was not a 'farmstay'.

I, too, visited Desert Lodge, with Shoshi, erirya, and dw325, along with Adam. It is too rustic for me, but I'm not a sleep in a outdoorsy setting kind of guy. My idea of roughing it is a hotel room without cable.

That said, if that IS what you're looking for, I think it would be a cool place to stay. It is out, overlooks Bedouin settlements, and the night sky is SPECTACULAR!

If you were looking for a more urban setting in Mitzpe Ramon, I would recommend IBike, a really charming B&B geared toward bicyclists but open to everyone, but I don't think that's what you are looking for.

Don't worry too much about immediate proximity to the Makhtesh. You'll be driving around anyway; it's not that big of an issue.